Information display arrangement for camera

ABSTRACT

An information display arrangement is provided in a viewfinder of a movie camera or the like. The information display arrangement includes a first array of function indicators and a second array of quantity indicators. The function indicators are selectively actuable by a switch arrangement operated by the camera user and the quantity indicators display the quantity of the camera function selected. The information display arrangement also includes apparatus for accurately displaying battery voltage status and film supply information independent of the switch setting by the camera user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to information displayarrangements for cameras and the like and more specifically to aninformation display arrangement in the viewfinder of a movie camerawherein the camera user selects a camera function to be displayed by aswitch arrangement and the quantity of the selected function isdisplayed in the viewfinder.

2. Description of the Prior Art

As movie cameras and the like become more sophisticated so as to providenumerous functions, it has become desirable to indicate in theviewfinder of the camera the necessary information for operation of thecamera such as battery voltage, remaining length of the film supply andthe status of other functions of the camera. In this way, the camerauser can be apprised of the operational status of the camera through theviewfinder.

For example, a viewfinder display arrangement for a camera is disclosedin U.S. application Ser. No. 943,429 filed by Richard K. Carlson onSept. 8, 1978. The viewfinder display disclosed therein provides usefulfunction and status information of camera operation underthe control ofvarious function test select buttons disposed about the camera housing.Function indicators are arranged along the top of the viewfinder andquantity indicators representing the quantity of the selected camerafunction are displayed on the bottom of the viewfinder. Further, theviewfinder display acts as a warning system independent of operation ofthe various function test buttons by actuating the appropriate functionindicator when the battery is marginally sufficient for operation, orwhen the film supply is very close to being used up, or when poorexposure conditions are encountered. Further, an all-test button isprovided to actuate the various function indicators with respectivequantity indications by the quantity indicator in a test functionsequence for a readout of all of the displayed camera functions. Thevarious functions and respective quantities of the camera function aresequentially read out and all tests function and warning display controlis accomplished by a microprocessor arranged as a central processingunit.

While the above described arrangements are generally suitable for theirintended use in a camera control system, it would be desirable toprovide an information display arrangement in the viewfinder of a camerawherein a rotary switch arrangement selectively controls the display ofcamera functions and respective quantity indications in the viewfinder.Further, it would be desirable to provide an automatic display ofvarious predetermined camera functions and a manually selectable displayfor other camera functions.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention toprovide a new improved information display arrangement in the viewfinderof a camera or the like with the display of various camera functionsbeing manually selectable by a switch arrangement to selectively displaycamera functions and related quantity information.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an informationdisplay arrangement in a viewfinder of a camera that automaticallydisplays predetermined basic camera functions and warning status relatedthereto while providing selective controls operable by the camera userto display the function and related quantity information of variouscamera functions.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following disclosuretaken in conjunction with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view and block diagram representation of theinformation display arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram and schematic representation of the controlcircuitry and display elements of the information display arrangement ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a representation of the information display arrangement ofFIG. 1 concerning various quantity indicating methods of the informationdisplay arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational representation and schematic representation ofa two point indicating method for film supply quantity indication inaccordance with a specific embodiment of the information displayarrangement of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram and electrical schematic representation of aspecific embodiment of portions of the information display arrangementof FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the information display arrangement 50of the present invention is shown with portions of the informationdisplay arrangement disposed about a viewfinder 1 of a camera. Theinformation display arrangement of the present invention is useful forstill cameras, movie cameras, sound movie cameras, video cameras andother apparatus where the display of functions and parameters relatingthereto is useful. The information display arrangement 50 includes afirst plurality of function indicators 52 disposed along the top of theviewfinder 1 and a second plurality of quantity indicators 54 disposedalong the bottom of the viewfinder 1. The function indicators 52 includea battery voltage indicator 2, a film supply indicator 3, an exposure oriris setting indicator 4 and a second level indicator 5 if soundrecording is applicable.

In a specific embodiment, the function indicators 2, 3, 4 and 5 aretransparent plates or bezels including indicia and pictorialrepresentations to depict the information. For example, the batteryvoltage indicator 2 includes a pictorial representation of a battery,the film supply indicator 3 includes a representation of one or moreframes of film, the exposure setting indicator 4 includes an iris oraperture representation and the sound recording level indicator 5includes an audio sound wave representation. The various pictorialfunction representations are printed on the indicating surfaces in onespecific embodiment. The function indicators 2 through 5 arerespectively connected with light emitting diodes or other illuminationdevices 7 through 10 by means of respective optical fiber elements 6.Thus, when the light emitting diodes 7 through 10 corresponding to theconnected function indicators 2 through 5 are energized, the respectivefunction indicator is illuminated.

In the specific embodiment where light emitting diode (LED) devices areutilized for the illumination devices 7 through 10, the cathode of eachLED device is connected to a ground reference and the anode of eachlight emitting diode is connected to a respective fixed contact 12 of amanually operable rotary switch arrangement 11. A movable center contact13 is provided on the rotary switch arrangement 11 and is controlled bya connecting shaft and control knob for selecting one of the fixedcontact positions 12 and energizing the connected light emitting diodes7 through 10.

The control knob (not shown) of the rotary switch arrangement 11 ispositioned on the outside of the camera housing at a suitable locationto allow the camera user to select desired function and quantityindications while operating the camera. The rotary switch arrangement 11includes a second switch level (not shown in FIG. 1) having fixed switchcontacts 12' and a movable center contact 13'. The movable centercontact 13' is operable by the control knob and movable with the movablecontact 13. The second switch level provided by the fixed contacts 12'and the movable contact 13' is utilized to selectively connect arespective measurement circuit corresponding to each of the functionsdepicted at indicators 2 through 5 to analyzing and display circuitry.

For example, a battery measurement circuit 14 is connected to the fixedcontact 12' of the upper switch level that is directly opposite andcorresponding to fixed contact 12 on the lower level associated with thebattery function indicator 2. A film supply measurement circuit 15, anexposure setting measurement circuit 16 and a sound recording levelmeasurement circuit 17 are connected to a respective fixed contact 12'on the upper level of the switch arrangement 11 that is aligned with thefixed contact 12 on the lower switch level that corresponds therespective function indicator.

Each of the measurement circuits 14 through 17 is a voltage generatingcircuit which generates the corresponding voltage according to aquantity of the measured function. For example, the battery voltagemeasuring circuit 14 generates a voltage corresponding to batteryvoltage, measurement circuit 15 generates a voltage corresponding to thequantity of film footage remaining in the film supply, the exposuremeasurement circuit 16 generates a voltage corresponding to the exposuresetting and the sound measurement circuit 17 generates a voltagecorresponding to the sound recording level.

The movable contact 13' of the upper switch level is connected to theinput of an analog-to-digital converter 18. The analog-to-digitalconverter 18 converts the outputs of the measurement of the circuits 14through 17 to a digital signal. The digital output of theanalog-to-digital converter 18 is connected to the input of a counter19. The output of the counter 19 is connected to the input of a decoder20. The output of the decoder 20 represents the measured quantity of theparticular function to which the rotary switch arrangement ispositioned.

The quantity indicators 54 in the specific embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1 include six indicators 27 through 32. The output of the decoder20 includes a respective control line for each of the quantityindicators 27 through 32; six control lines in the specific embodimentshown in FIG. 1. Each of the control lines is connected to a respectiveillumination device 21 through 26. Each of the illumination devices 21through 26 is connected to a respective one of the quantity indicators27 through 32 by a fibre optic element 33. Thus, the quantity indicators27 through 32 are illuminated in accordance with the control lines ofthe output of the decoder 20.

For example, in one arrangement, a full battery voltage or film supplyis represented by all 6 indicators 27 through 32 being illuminated and alow battery supply or low film supply is represented by one indicatorsuch as 27 being illuminated. In a specific embodiment, the lowest levelquantity indicator 27 is a different color than the color of theindicators 28 through 32. For example, the indicator 27 is a redindicator and the indicators 28 through 32 are yellow indicators. Itshould also be understood that other combinations of different colorsfor each of the indicators 27 through 32 is also possible. The loweredge of the viewfinder 1 includes pointers or reference marks 34corresponding to the position of each information quantity indicators 27through 32. The pointers or reference marks 34 in a specific embodimentare provided by printing or metal evaporating on viewfinder 1.

Accordingly, the manually operable rotary switch arrangement 11 isselectively positioned by the camera user to indicate a camera functionon one of the function indicators 2 through 5 and correspondingquantities associated with the camera function selected on the quantityindicators 27 through 32.

The analog-to-digital converter 18, the counter 19 and the decoder 20are arranged to operate at a periodic data rate. Thus, updated quantityread out information for the selected function is provided to the userat periodic intervals, one second for example.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the manner in which the quantities indicated onthe quantity indicators 27 through 32 includes a bar graph indicatingmethod in FIG. 3A wherein the quantity of information is indicated fromleft to right with the number of illuminated indicators corresponding tothe level of the quantity measured and represented. For example, thethree lowest quantity indicators 27, 28 and 29 and in FIG. 3A correspondto approximately one half of the quantity measured. When measuring filmsupply with function indicator 3 illuminated, quantity indicators 27, 28and 29 being illuminated indicates approximately one half of the filmsupply remaining. If all 6 indicators are illuminated, an essentiallyfull film supply is indicated. Concerning battery voltage, theindicators 27 through 32 in a specific embodiment correspond to theuseful range of battery voltage to operate the camer rather than thenumber of volts per se. Thus, if the indicator 27 is illuminated, thestate of the battery is marginal and at the lowest operating voltage tosustain camera functions. That is, any lower battery voltage may resultin erratic operation or no operation whatsoever. Correspondingly, thesix indicators 27 through 32 being illuminated represent a full batterysupply.

In FIG. 3B, the one point indicating method is illustrated with theindicator 29 being illuminated to represent a quantity slightly lessthan one half of the middle of the measured quantity. Concerning thefilm supply, indicator 29 being illuminated represents that somewhatless than one half of the film supply remains.

In FIG. 3C, a two point indicating method is illustrated to provide moreaccurate quantity indications while using the same number of indicators.For example, the indicators 29 and 30 being illuminated represents themeasured quantity such as film supply being approximately one halfwhereas indicator 29 alone being illuminated represents slightly lessthan one half the film supply remaining and indicator 30 beingilluminated represents slightly more than one half of the film supplyremaining.

In FIG. 3D, another form of one point indication is illustrated. In FIG.3D when the quantity measured is between the levels represented by theindicators 29 and 30, the next highest indicator is illuminatedcorresponding to the quantity measured whereas in FIG. 3B the nextlowest quantity is represented.

Considering now a specific embodiment for accomplishing a two pointindicating method for film supply quantity and referring now to FIG. 4,fixed contacts 35 through 40 are provided with the left and right sidecontacts 35 and 40 being generally L-shaped and the contacts 36 through39 being generally Z-shaped. Thus, a portion of adjacent contacts areoverlapped with respect to a horizontal line but the fixed contacts areisolated one from the other without adjacent contact.

Each of the quantity illumination devices 21 through 26 is connected toa respective one of the fixed contacts 35 through 40 through arespective one of six resistors R1 through R6. The resistors R1 and R6are different resistance values than R2 through R5 in a specificembodiment to provide a distinct warning indication as opposed to theadvisory quantity information of the middle illumination devicesconnected throughout the resistors R2 through R5. Thus, differentillumination levels are provided for advisory and warning indications.

A horizontal fixed contact 41 is provided as a ground connection belowthe fixed contacts 35 through 40 and spans the expanse of the fixedcontacts 35 through 40. A threaded rod 42 is rotatably supported at twoends. One end of the threaded rod 42 is arranged to be driven by thefilm transport drive arrangement of the camera. Thus, the threaded rod42 is rotating according to the usage of the film supply. A nut 43 iscarried by the threaded rod 43 so as to be movable with rotation of therod 42. An elongated vertically disposed movable contact bar 44 iscarried by the nut 43.

The elongated contact bar 44 includes three protruding contacts points44'. A first of the contacts 44' is arranged to be aligned with thefixed ground reference contact 41 and the other two contacts 44' aredisposed to contact the fixed contacts 35 through 40 at two points.Thus, for predetermined positions of the nut 43 along the threaded rod42, the contacts 44' will contact one of the fixed contacts 35 through40. For other predetermined positions, the contacts 44' will contact twoof the adjacent fixed contacts 35 through 40 in accordance with theshape of the fixed contacts 35 through 40. For example, when the nut 43and the attached contact bar 44 are in the phantom position of FIG. 4,the fixed contacts 37 and 38 are contacted by contacts 44' and the twoillumination devices 23 and 24 are actuated to illuminate the indicators29 and 30. In the position indicated in FIG. 4, only the illuminationdevice 21 is energized since only the fixed contact 35 is contacted.

In another specific arrangement, a contact bar 44 is provided withappropriate width dimensions and the fixed contacts 35 through 40 aregenerally rectangular with no overlapping. In this arrangement, the twopoint contact method is accomplished by the width of the contact 44spanning two of the adjacent fixed contacts.

In another embodiment and referring now to FIG. 5, the rotary switcharrangement 11 is arranged to control the display of the exposuresetting function indicator 4 and the sound recording function indicator5. The battery voltage function indicator 2 and the film supplyindicator 3 are controlled to provide indications without operation ofthe rotary switch 11 and independently of the position of the switch 11.Thus, a low film supply condition or a low battery supply condition isindicated regardless of the position of the rotary switch 11. This isuseful since the battery and film supply functions are critical withrespect to the operation of the camera; i.e., if the battery level orthe film supply level is low, the camera is not operative and otherfunctions are meaningless.

The battery supply is connected to a voltage detecting circuit 45 andthe voltage detecting circuit 45 controls the energization of thebattery voltage function indicator 2 to alert the camera user of a lowbattery condition at any time during camera operation independent of thesetting of the rotary switch 11. Similarly, a switch 46 is connected tooperate the film supply function indicator 3 independent of the rotaryswitch arrangement 11. Thus, the camera user is apprised of a low orused up film supply by the function indicator 2 even when the camerauser has set the rotary switch 11 to monitor the exposure function orthe sound level function. The switch 46 is operated when the film supplyreaches a predetermined level corresponding to the film supply beingnearly or completely expended.

In another embodiment, the two point indicating system illustrated inFIG. 3 is provided by the electrical circuits discussed in connectionwith FIG. 1 to actuate two quantity indicators for film quantityindication. Thus, when the film supply is between the quantitiesrepresented by two adjacent ones of the quantity indicators 27 through32, the circuits 15, 18, 19 and 20 output control signals to actuate twoadjacent indicators in accordance with the two point indicating method.Further, the display of operating information representing the otherfunctions is also provided by the two point indicating method inaccordance with the measurement circuits 15, 16 and 17 and theanalog-to-digital converter 18, the counter 19 and the decoder 20.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in theart.

We claim:
 1. An information display arrangement for a viewfinder of acamera or the like comprising:a plurality of camera function indicatorsarranged along a first predetermined portion of the perimeter of theviewfinder and associated with a respective plurality of functions; aplurality of quantity indicators arranged along a second predeterminedportion of the perimeter of the viewfinder; manually operable switchselection means for selectively actuating a respective one of saidfunction indicators in each of a plurality of switch positions; quantitymeasurement means for generating an analog voltage for each of aplurality of functions corresponding to said function indicators, saidanalog voltage representing a predetermined quantity representationassociated with each of said functions, said manually operable switchmeans including means for selectively connecting to a quantity signaloutput the respective one of said analog voltage quantityrepresentations corresponding to the function represented by thefunction indicator that is actuated by said manually operable switchmeans; and means responsive to said quantity signal output controllingsaid plurality of quantity indicators in a predetermined manner torepresent said predetermined quantity representation corresponding tosaid actuated function.
 2. The information display arrangement of claim1 wherein said manually operable switch selection means comprises arotary switch including a switch layer, said switch layer including acontact position for each of said function indicators.
 3. Theinformation display arrangement of claim 2 wherein said selectionconnecting means of said manually operable means comprises a secondswitch layer of said rotary switch, said second switch layer including aplurality of contact positions, each of said contact positions beingconnected to a respective one of said analog voltage outputs of saidquantity measurement means.
 4. The information display arrangement ofclaim 1 wherein said controlling means includes analog-to-digitalconverter means for converting said analog voltages into digitalrepresentations.
 5. The information display arrangement of claim 1wherein each of said function indicators and each of said quantityindicators comprises a light emitting diode and a fiber optic element.6. The information display arrangement of claim 5 wherein each of saidfunction indicators further includes a function symbol representation.7. The information display arrangement of claim 1 wherein said functionsincludes battery status film supply, exposure setting and soundrecording level.
 8. The information display arrangement of claim 1wherein said controlling means actuates said quantity indicators in asequential manner from one end to the other to represent the quantity ofthe respective functions, said quantity indications in said sequenceremaining actuated once that quantity is exceeded that is represented bysaid actuated associated indicators to represent said quantity accordingto a bar graph method of quantity representation.
 9. The informationdisplay arrangement of claim 1 wherein said controlling means actuatessaid quantity indicators according to a predetermined relationship withrespect to the measured quantity, said controlling means actuating saidquantity indicators in accordance with a two point indicating methodwhereby two adjacent indicators are actuated when the measured quantityis a value corresponding to that represented between said two adjacentquantity indicators.
 10. An information display arrangement disposedabout the viewfinder of a camera comprising:a plurality of functionindicators; a plurality of quantity indicators; manually operable switchselection means for selectively actuating a predetermined number of saidcamera function indicators, said predetermined number being at leasttwo, said manually operable switch selection means actuating one of saidpredetermined number of function indicators in a respective switchposition; quantity measurement means for generating a signalcorresponding to each of said predetermined number of functionsindicators, said generated signal representing a predetermined quantityassociated with each of said functions, said manually operable switchmeans including means for selectively connecting to a quantity outputthe respective one of said generated signals corresponding to thefunction represented by the function indicator actuated by said manuallyoperable switch means; means responsive to said quantity outputs of saidquantity measurement means for controlling said quantity indicator torepresent the predetermined quantity associated with the actuatedfunction indicator; and warning means for actuating said functionindicators not included in said predetermined number of functionsindicators in accordance with predetermined basic operating requirementsfor said camera whereby said respective function indicator is actuatedwhen said corresponding camera function is not within an acceptablerange for camera operation.
 11. The information display of claim 10wherein said function indicators actuated by said warning means includebattery status and film supply.